Notes on limits of Sobolev spaces and the continuity of interpolation scales

Abstract

We extend lemmas by Bourgain-Brezis-Mironescu (2001), and Maz’ya-Shaposhnikova (2002), on limits of Sobolev spaces, to the setting of interpolation scales. This is achieved by means of establishing the continuity of real and complex interpolation scales at the end points. A connection to extrapolation theory is developed, and a new application to limits of Sobolev scales is obtained. We also give a new approach to the problem of how to recognize constant functions via Sobolev conditions.